Powerful Solution from Scraps

I have never been happy with my power source at the workbench for some of my small power tools. I’ve managed with some short extension bars but I could never get them secured well and I just wasn’t happy with them.

I stumbled across an old 100 ft extension cord hiding in a shed around the house that was left by a previous owner. It had the female end cut off the male end wasn’t much better but the 95 feet or so in the middle wasn’t bad at all. It got me thinking.

I lopped off about 20 feet or so of the cord and on one end assembled a dual outlet, using galvanized housings and covers. On the other end a heavy-duty plug socket.

Using some old wood scraps, I made a bracket that I installed to the side of my bench. I also made a “paddle” looking wooden base in which to install the outlet housing assembly. The tail of the paddle fits down into the bracket making a solid, sturdy “above the bench” holder for the outlets. The paddle can be turned either direction or taken out entirely.

The bracket is positioned flush with the top of the table so if I am working with an overhanging sheet stock, I can remove the outlets and place them in an alternative position and the bracket never impedes any overhanging work.

I’m thinking of making a few more “twenty footers” out of the remaining cordage, complete with their own paddles. I may also place additional brackets in other “power challenged” areas of the shop. Just drop the paddle in the slot and your ready to go.